Death penalty foes introduce measure in Olympia

OLYMPIA (AP) — Republican and Democratic lawmakers against the death penalty have introduced a measure eliminating it. But they fully acknowledge that the bill won’t go anywhere this year in Olympia.

The House measure eliminates the death penalty from the punishment available for people convicted of aggravated first-degree murder, leaving life in prison without parole as the top conviction.

In a joint statement, Democratic Reps. Reuven Carlyle of Seattle and Tina Orwall of Des Moines and Republican Rep. Maureen Walsh of Walla Walla say that the death penalty is “immoral, unfairly implemented and appeals to society’s most violent instincts rather than love and compassion.”

They also say that the death penalty is costly to taxpayers because of the appeals process.